Correctional Officer

Correctional Officers have one of the most difficult professions in the country. Not everyone who applies has what it takes to become a certified Correctional Officer. Correctional Officers are the Law Enforcement Officers who work in the Jails and Prisons... the nations toughest beats. Right out of the academy, a certified and employed Correctional Officer is also a supervisor. Correctional Officers are responsible for everything from overseeing inmate housing units to supervising and motivating inmate work crews. 
 

There are four ways one can become a certified Correctional Officer in the State of Florida:  

  1. Complete a basic recruit training program for Correctional Officers

  2. Be certified in the State of Florida as a Law Enforcement Officer and Complete a Crossover program from Law Enforcement to Corrections.

  3. Be certified in the State of Florida as a Correctional Probation Officer and Complete a Crossover program from Correctional Probation to Corrections.

  4. Be a certified Correctional Officer in the United States and apply for the Equivalency of Training (EoT) program.

  

In order to carry out the duties and responsibilities of a Correctional Officer one must:   

  1. Complete the appropriate training program

  2. Pass the Florida State Certification Examination

  3. Be employed or appointed as a Correctional Officer by a certified Agency

  

 Minimum requirements for employment as a Correctional Officer  

  1. Be at least 19 years of age

  2. Be a citizen of the United States

  3. Be a high school graduate or equivalent

  4. Not have been convicted of any felony or of a misdemeanor involving perjury or false statement

  5. Not have a dishonorable discharge from any of the armed forces of the United States

  6. Achieve a passing score on the CJBAT Test for Corrections

  7. Have been fingerprinted by the employing agency with prints processed by the FDLE and the FBI

  8. Have passed a physical examination by a licensed physician

  9. Have good moral character

  10. Completed an Affidavit of Applicant form CJSTC-68

  11. Successfully passed a background investigation to include drug testing

  12. Successfully completed one of the Law Enforcement Officer Basic Recruit, Crossover, or EOT training programs

  13. Achieve a passing score on the State Officer Certification Examination

  14. Complied with mandatory retraining for continuing training or education requirements

 

Check the Schedule for a list of class dates and times